Telephone cut-off or muffler.



No. 888,822 PATHNTED MAY 26, 1908.

'e. s. KNOWLES.

TELEPHONE GUT-OFF 0R MUFFLER.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 30. 1907.

attorneys UN STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE S. KNOWLES, OF BUFFALO, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF FORTY-NINE ONE-HUNDREDTHS TO D. M. RUSH, OF BUFFALO, MISSOURI.

TELEPHONE CUT-OFF OR MUFFLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 26, 1908.

Application filed. October 30, 1907. Serial No. 399,855.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE S. KNowLEs,

' a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Dallas and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telephone Out-Offs or Mufflers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a telephone cut-0E or muflier, and the object is to provide means for cutting off the ringing of the bells or at least holding the clapper from hitting the bells and permitting only a muffied sound. Again, by this device I am enabled to prevent the waste from the batteries, and yet when it is used as a cut-oif a person can listen to a conversation along the line and hear as distinctly as if the batteries were connected, and in this way the batteries are saved from leakage, which is quite a saving on bridging lines.

The invention relates to certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a view showing the invention applied to a telephone. Fig. 2 is a view showing the con nection with the batteries. Fig. 3 is aview showing the parts disassembled. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view.

A represents the telephone box having bells 1, 1, thereon, and the clapper 2 between the bells. A plate 3 has an opening 4 at or about its center through which the bell claper 2 extends. The plate is secured to the cover of the box A by means of screws 5 and 6. An insulating washer 7 is inserted in the opening through which the screw 6 passes.

Mounted on the plate 3 is a slide 8 having an elongated slot 9 and at or about the center of this elongated slot a cylindrical opening 10 is formed. The slide is held in engagement with the plate 3 by means of binding screws 11, 11, A knob 12 is formed on one end of the slide whereby it can be moved along the plate.

When it is desired to cut off the 'ringing of the bell, the slide 8 is slid along the plate 3 until the clapper is received in the elongated slot 9which prevents the clapper from striking the bell and only permits a muflled sound by the clapper striking the sides of the slot. l/Vhen the slideis holding the clapper in this muffled position, it cuts off the circuit from the batteries, by the slide 8 breaking the contact with the screw 6 which is connected to one of the terminals of the circuit thereby preventing leakage, and yet not interfering in any manner with the use of the telephone as a person listening can hear a conversation passing over the line.

It can be seen that I have provided a very simple and useful invention performing a double function, and at the same time giving good results.

It is evident that more or less slight changes might be resorted to in the form and arrangement of the several parts de scribed without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not Wish to limit myself to the exact construction herein set forth, but

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A, telephone cut-off or muflier comprising a plate having an opening therein for the clapper of a telephone, and means on the plate adapted to prevent the clapper from striking the bells.

2. A telephone cut-off or muffler comprising a plate having an opening therein for the clapper of a telephone bell, and a slide on the plate adapted to engage the bell clapper to prevent it from striking the bell.

31 A telephone cutoif or muffler comprising a plate adapted to be secured to a telephone box and in communication with the batteries, said plate having an opening therein for the bell clapper and a slide having an elongated slot for receiving the bell clapper whereby it is prevented from striking the bell and when the slide is moved from its normal position cutting out the batteries.

4. A telephone cut-off or muffler comprising a plate connected to a telephone box and in communication with the batteries, said plate having an opening for the bell clapper, and means whereby the batteries .7 can be cut out and the clapper prevented from striking the bell.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE S. KNOWLES.

Witnesses:

J. T. PENDLETON, NORA WRIGHT. 

